Winter can feel quiet in the natural world. The leaves are gone, many birds have migrated, and the forest floor looks still. But for the animals that remain, winter is a season of strategy, adaptation, and survival.
At our February Nature Day, families explored what it takes for wildlife to make it through the coldest months of the year.
One of the activities invited participants to test different types of insulation. Using materials that represented fat, feathers, and synthetic layers, participants experimented to see which one protected against cold temperatures most effectively. Just like animals preparing for winter, they had to think about how bodies hold heat and how insulation works.
Many were surprised by the results. Fat and feathers, the same kinds of insulation many animals rely on, performed remarkably well. It was a hands-on way to understand why animals grow thicker coats, build up fat reserves, or rely on dense feather layers as temperatures drop.
Families also stepped into the role of wildlife detectives.
At a sand table filled with kinetic sand, participants used premade animal tracks to create their own tracking stories. A line of prints might show a duck crossing an open space. Another set might reveal where a coyote followed behind. Kids experimented with patterns, spacing, and direction, slowly building scenes that told a story about what might have happened in the snow or mud.
It didn’t take long before the table filled with imaginative explanations. Was the raccoon looking for food? Was the squirrel being chased? Did the animal stop to listen before moving on?
Through play, participants were learning an important skill used by wildlife biologists and naturalists. Tracks are more than just footprints. They are clues that help us understand who has passed through an area, where they were going, and sometimes even what they were doing.
Suddenly, the forest didn’t feel so quiet after all.
These moments are exactly what we hope for during Nature Days. Instead of simply hearing about how animals survive winter, participants get to test ideas, observe patterns, and uncover clues themselves. These are the kinds of experiences that turn into lessons that stick.
The next time you walk outside on a cold morning, take a moment to look around. Tracks in the mud, feathers caught on branches, and quiet movements in the trees all hint at the wildlife that shares our winter landscape.
Even in the coldest months, the natural world is full of life. Sometimes all it takes is slowing down long enough to notice.
Photos by Sarah Ells Fish and Apryl Corey.